Questions & Answers – January 19, 2011

Anonymous: Shat shat pranam swamiji i have started doing havna 2 times as per your kind advice. I feel very good as only 1 day has passed. All because of your blessings. Guruji i am a non-vegetarian as I have been brought up that way. I cant leave it at one go. I want to perform havan daily but my innerself does not allow me to eat meat *doing same things together.* What should I do? Bless me to shun meat..Swami Ramswarup: My blessings to you. Your pious deeds and decision to do daily havan both times, is really highly appreciated. You see, God is pleased with daily havan which is the best worship of God. You are advised to study my book on Havan- Yajyen karma sarvashreshth Ishwar Pooja (in Hindi worth Rs. 65/-, excluding postal charges. It can be sent on receipt of your postal address, if you desire. As regards, being non-vegetarian, we will have to think over the matter deeply, keeping in view the views of Atharvaveda wherein God states that those who take meat/non-vegetarian, he punishes them but who leave taking non-vegetarian immediately, God forgives their sins of taking non-vegetarian. This is the only sin which Almighty God forgives. Otherwise, He never forgives any sin without inflicting punishment. Moreover, our inner system of body is made of mann (mind), buddhi (intellect), chitta ({faculty which receives knowledge from five senses and passes the same intellect is called Chitta and Chitta stores the effect of various karmas to be faced by soul in future at a proper time}) ahankar(feeling of existence) all made from Raj, tamo, sato gunn of Prakriti. So, mann is also a sinner, being made of Prakriti. Mostly, people obey the mann (mind) views whereas Vedas state to follow the souls views. So, rightly, you being, soul hate to take non-vegetarian. But wrongly, you accept mind’s view. Please be brave and follow your (soul’s) pious views. Again, my blessing to you.

Sunil Kumar: Charan Vandana Swami Ji, I want to learn/know/read positives from all four vedas i.e Rigveda,Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. Is it possible for me? If possible then how can I achieve this dream? Means from where I can get original Veda knowledge (Original Source)? As I am a Software Engineer. I don’t have enough time to go to someone and learn. E.g, We have Bhagvad gita Holly books available. Do we have such Holly books on Vedas as well? Thanks in advance for the guidance. With Regards.Swami Ramswarup: My blessings to you. Everything is possible for a hard-working man, please. To study the Vedas, a learned acharya is necessary, who teaches them well. Before entering the knowledge of Vedas, I would advise you to read some of my Vedic books to gain Vedic knowledge, easily. A list of the books is appended below, to be selected by you.

An aspirant like you will have to spare time for the above purpose, please. As regards, Bhagwad Geeta, I have commented every shloka of it, giving proof of Ved mantras, which is in Hindi. If you desire, you may also study it. Those who have studied it, have commented that it is the distinct from other books and master piece on the topic. So, you may also try, if you desire. If you have got time, you may come to me, to discuss the Vedic matter and gain Vedic knowledge. You are always welcome, please.

Actually, those who take birth on this earth, they are involved in illusion since numerous previous lives. That is why, they are entitled to get birth again and again to face the result of previous lives’ deeds- good or bad in the shape of happiness and sorrows respectively.

Vedic path shows us the right path of pious deeds, science and worship. One who follows the same, he can attain salvation.

Hard working, devotion, dedication, honesty, services to the parents and elders to follow eternal religion mentioned in Vedas, practice of Ashtang Yoga, discharging moral duties to get progress in education, science simultaneously with spiritualism like, daily havan, to be in contact with the learned Acharya, to get his advice, are some of the pious deeds which make the future bright and obliterate the sorrows, problems, diseases, etc.

One must wake up early in the morning for early morning walk and exercises, must sit on meditation and chant holy name of God, must be away from any addiction and non-vegetarian. Such pious actions lead to long, happy life and bright future.

Chanting of Gayatri Mantra

Please, start the day by chanting Gayatri mantra in the early morning sitting on suitable asan like Sukhasan, Siddhasan or Padmasan etc. concentrate on the point between two eyebrows which is called “Agyachakra”. The Gayatri mantra should be chanted along with its meaning both times. Also, please try to perform daily hawan even with Gayatri mantra. Then try to study any of my books daily and put up question if any.

After 15 days chant the Gayatri mantra only thrice thereafter do the name jaap of Almighty God-“Om”. The jaap must be done daily by heart and not orally.

Meaning of Gayatri mantra stating each word is as follows. Its meaning is based on Vedas and Sanskrit grammar. Grammatical hints are in short please.

Om has three Hindi words. Aa, Uu AND Ma. Aa is meant for Aakaar from which three names of God are built,Viraat, Agni, and Vishwadi. From Uu = uukar from which Hiranyagarbha, Vaayu and Tejas names occur andMa = makaar from which Ishwar, Aditya and Praajyan aadi, holy names of God occur. Rigveda mantra 1/164/46 says God is one but His names are several. But here OM the holy name of God is only being explained.

VIRAAT= Viraat word is made from dhatu ‘Rajrideeptau’ i.e., manifest. Therefore Viraat means He who manifests the universe. As God manifests the universe, thus Viraat is the name of God. Rigveda mandal 10, sukta 129 states that like potter makes pot from clay, similarly God creates universe from non-alive matter prakriti. Prakriti is unseen matter. From unseen matter, the whole universe is created in the visible form. Science also says that matter is never destroyed but changes its form. Suppose a paper is burnt, paper changes its form into ashes. Then ashes are crushed and thrown in air. At this moment, the paper changed into ashes becomes invisible but was never destroyed. Similarly the whole universe at the time of finaldestruction is turned into prakriti i.e., into unseen form.

AGNI = From dhatu, ” ANCHU GATI POOJANAYOHO” the word “AGNI is made. Its meaning is — He who is a form of wisdom. “SARVAJAYEN” i.e., omniscient. I.e., knows even every atom of universe and even beyonduniverse too. He who is to be known, to be gained and worshippable. So agni is the name of God.

VISHWA = Vishwa word is made from dhatu, “VISHPRAVESHANE”. Its meaning is in whom the universe is entering or He is entering the universe. So being omnipresent, Vishwa is the name of God.

HIRANGARBHA = i.e., ” JYOTIRVAYIHIRANYAM”. Its meaning is, who is the base of all sun, etc., luminous lokas or He who is the living place of all luminous lokas.

VAAYU = from dhatu, “VA GATIGANDHANYOHO”, vaayu word is made. Its meaning is He who holds, gives life and destroys and the mightiest amongst all. So the name of God is Vaayu.

TEJ = from dhatu, “TIJA NISHANE”, the word Tej is made who is self made and self-enlighted and gives light to sun, moon, stars etc. God does not take light from anywhere else but gives light to sun, moon, stars, etc. so the unbroken, unobstructed/unproduced and eternal shape of light is Almighty God and not sun, moon etc. So the name of God is Tej.

ISHWAR = from dhatu, “ISH ASHWERIYE”, the word Ishwar is made. Its meaning is whose knowledge is thoughtful and true and has unlimited wealth, fortune and glory etc. Therefore the name of God is Ishwar. Here it is not out of place to mention that soul (man/woman) has limited qualities and are dependent whereas God is independent and has unlimited qualities that is why He is God.

ADITYA = from dhatu, “DO AVAKHANDANE”, Aditya word is made. Its meaning is the one who cannot be broken into pieces and thus cannot be destroyed. So God’s name is Aditya.

PRAJAYEN (PRAGYA) = from dhatu, “JYEN AVABODHANE”, Prajayen word is made whose wisdom is totally without any misunderstanding and thus he who knows every Manner and behavior of whole universe without misunderstanding. So God’s name is Prajayen. So here also it not out of place to mention that illusion can never attack on God and God is totally free from illusion.

BHUHU= “BHUHU ITI VAYEE PRANAHA” i.e., He who is the base of lives of universe, is most beloved, even more than Pran i.e., breath. So Bhuhu is the name of God.

BHUVAHA= “BHUVAHA ITI APANAHA” i.e., He who is totally free from any sorrow, and with whose contact, the soul removes his all sorrow. So the name of God is Bhuvaha.

SWAHA= i.e., “SWAHA ITI VYANAHE” who is omnipresent in the universe and is holding the same. So the name of God is Swaha.

SAVITUHU = He who creates the universe. So the name of God is Savituhu.

DEVSYA= who gives all pleasure/merriment, so the name of God is Dev.

VARENYAM = He who is the most supreme and acceptable. God is most supreme and acceptable for worship.

BHARGAHA = the purest entity (though God is formless, but finding no suitable English word of Sanskrit word, “SUDH SWARUPAM” the word entity has been used.)

TAT = i.e., the God i.e., of the purest entity.

DHIMAHI = i.e., we must hold (sort of meditation) because

YAHA = the God

NAHA = our,

DHIYAHA = mind (i.e., in our minds)

PRACHODYAT = by inspiration (fulfil the mind with wisdom)

MEANING “We meditate the God who is the base of lives’ of universe, totally free from any sorrow, omnipresent, creates the universe, gives all pleasure/merriment,most supreme and acceptable, purest entity; May the God enlighten our minds with wisdom by His inspiration”.

Here it is not out of place to mention that idea of a (one) Ved mantra is based on ideas of several Ved mantras. So in the above Gaytri mantra, there are three things —- Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Swaha, Savituhu, Bhargaha, Devsya are some qualities amongst unlimited qualities of God. These are called Stuti i.e., to say about God with His real qualities and not self made etc.

Secondly Dhimahi means meditation i.e., one should always sit in meditation and do hard and pious deeds for which he will have to study Vedas in full, while discharging moral duties towards family and nation.

Third and last is DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODYAT. It is a prayer to God explanation of which is cited above.

In the above mantra we pray to God but mere prayer does not solve the purpose until we do hard work according to the prayer.

As regards pronunciation of Gayatri mantra, either you may contact any learned acharya locally or a cassette with recitation of Gayatri mantra by me can be sent to you on receipt of your postal address, if you so desire, the price of cassette will be worth Rs.20/- excluding postal charges

How to do havan

Please sit in the morning to perform havan. Havan must be in sunlight then it is more beneficial. Then half a bowl of fresh water with a tablespoon must be with you with small twigs especially of mango tree if possible, havan samagri, ghee, camphor and match box must be there with you. Please sit on sukh asan on four times folded blanket and blanket must be on mat.

Sukh asan i.e., sit on duly folded feet in comfortable position. Then first close your eyes and concentrate between two eyebrows and chant Gaytri mantra three times within heart and not by mouth. Then open your eyes.

Take one spoon of water in right palm. Chant this mantra, OM AMRTO UPASTRANMASI SWAHA and drink the water which you have put in your palm. Then again take the spoon of water in right palm then chant the next mantra, OM AMRITA APIDHANMASI SWAHA, and drink the water. Then again take the water in right palm and chant the mantra, OM SATYAM YASHAH SHRI MAYI SHRI SHRAYTAAM SWAHA, and drink the water. Then wash the right palm while sitting, with the same water kept in bowl.

Then put the twigs into havan kund with one piece of camphor and burn it. During this process chant the Gaytri mantra again and again till such time the fire is lighted sufficiently. Then chant the Gaytri mantra and at the last add the word Swaha and offer ghee with tablespoon, quantity equivalent to 4 to 5 drops. And if you are alone then also offer in fire pinch of havan samagri from your right hand’s finger and thumb avoiding forefinger. So this offering may be of 11 times, 21 times or 51 times as the time suits. It is the simplest way and I have not quoted the complete method of Yajna. The havan with Ved mantras are always offered as the best worship of God only please. Do havan daily and both times.